Unashamed - Martin Wiles

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 NLT

Some things that I was ashamed of growing up, I’m now ashamed I was ashamed of.

Until my middle school years, I was proud of my parents. While they didn’t give me everything I wanted, they gave me all I needed. I never had to wear raggedy clothes or holey shoes. Mom prepared home-cooked meals, and our cabinets were never bare. Although my parents were not lovey-dovey, they always acted in ways that let me know I was loved. Abusive or negative words never flowed from their mouths. They wanted the best for their three sons.

When I reached the teenage years, my attitude changed. Suddenly, feelings of shame over who my parents were arose. I didn’t enjoy telling people my father was a preacher because then they labeled me a “PK.” They expected me to be good all the time. And the rules I had previously willingly obeyed now seemed foolish. Being made to go to church every time the doors were opened didn’t help either. Many of my friends never darkened a church’s doors.

Reflecting now, I’m ashamed that I ever was ashamed of my parents. Unfortunately, I was sometimes ashamed of what Paul proclaims loudly that he isn’t ashamed of: the gospel of Jesus Christ. I didn’t like others to know I was a preacher’s kid. I certainly didn’t flaunt my faith and rarely shared it.

Things changed when I was in my mid-twenties. I adopted Paul’s attitude—and for good reason. The gospel is good news, and people need to hear some good news. After all, bad news is almost all we hear from media sources. Telling people they are loved unconditionally and can be forgiven of their sins is encouraging news worth spreading.

I’m not ashamed to share something that includes an invitation for everyone. God excludes none except those who refuse on their own volition to come. Nor am I ashamed to share something that has eternal consequences. Refusing to accept God’s gospel means an eternity in a less-than-pleasant place.

Sharing news that has the power to change lives is something to be proud of, not ashamed of. When we receive the good news of the gospel, everything changes: our outlook on life, our priorities, our relationships, and our eternity.

Don't be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Father, give me the fortitude to boldly proclaim the best news I could ever share.

 

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Little Things Matter - Martin Wiles

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. Luke 16:10 NLT

His absence almost caused a catastrophe in the coffee café room.

I never paid much attention to what Bill did—until he was absent one Sunday. Noticing that he wasn’t there at his usual time, I plugged the coffee machines in, thinking he was running behind. When it became evident he wasn’t coming, another gentleman and I hurriedly prepared the coffee, only to have the first pot turn out cold, weak, and full of grounds. That night, after the evening services, I made my rounds to lock the buildings. When I came to the coffee room, I noticed both pots were still on—one hosting a carafe with baked coffee.

Those who visit our coffee café probably take what Bill does for granted, as I did. His absence reminded us how critical little things are. Jesus thought so too and taught that a person’s faithfulness in doing small things would lead to greater responsibilities.

We typically measure greatness by our titles, how much we’ve accomplished, or how many people we manage. Not so in Jesus’ economy. He’s more concerned about our attitudes and motives—the whys behind our actions. If done for the wrong reasons or with ulterior motives, the doing doesn’t count, at least not in his eyes.

By our definition of greatness, quantity is important. Jesus, however, considers quality. Whatever he gives us to do, he wants us to do it well—even if it’s no more than making the morning coffee at church. Doing the little things also fosters humility—a trait highly praised by God.

A lot of people doing a multitude of little things is what makes God’s Kingdom advance. We may hear more about the larger churches or the more influential movers and shakers, but the no-names who work faithfully at their respective churches and in their communities make large impacts for Christ.

Be faithful in whatever God gives you to do—even if it appears to be a small task.

Father, thank you for your faithfulness to me. May I be just as faithful to you. 

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Trusting the Unseen - Martin Wiles

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 2 Kings 6:17 NLT

Financial crunches sometimes reveal the unseen.

Ours was a financial crunch like we hadn’t seen lately. The payment for our low-mileage used car drained from our bank account, so we had to decide. As much as we hated parting with it, we had to let our car go back. In its place, we purchased an older vehicle of the same model with more miles. The seller advertised it as having 100K and told us before we gave it a test drive that the odometer only worked periodically.

As we drove down the road, we discovered he was right—at least in one respect. The odometer wasn’t showing the mileage. But then, suddenly, the mileage appeared. Although the owner had been truthful about the odometer, he hadn’t been about the mileage. One hundred thousand was 205,000. Now we had another decision.

Three years later, we didn’t regret our decision to purchase it. We experienced no trouble, even though we rarely saw the odometer. Occasionally, it appeared--long enough for us to know it was working and to mentally note the mileage so we could tell the service attendant the next time we had the oil changed. We trusted the unseen.

A foreign king hounded the prophet Elisha, wanting to end his life. When Elisha’s servant saw the army surrounding him and his master, he cried out in fear: “What will we do now?” Elisha prayed that God would help him see the unseen—and God did. The hillside around them ignited with horses and chariots of fire. Elisha trusted the unseen.

The times I’ve seen God’s hand at work in vivid color are somewhat like the odometer on that car—rarely seen. But they come around regularly enough to let me know he’s continually working behind the scenes. My life is in his hands, and he is constantly working to form me into his Son’s image, to protect me from unforeseen danger, and to supply my every need—even if it’s an older model car with high mileage. Through explicit and unexplainable occurrences—as well as through the kindness of others--God leads us to trust his unseen hand.

We don’t always observe God’s hand, but he lovingly controls the world and faithfully works to provide for our needs. Trust him in the unseen.

Father, thank you for letting me know you work behind the scenes even when I can’t see your hand. 

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Fits and Starts - Martin Wiles

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. Romans 7:15 NLT

For a long time, I committed more “fits” than “starts.” 

For those not familiar with the idiom, it refers to irregular intervals of actions and inaction, as in “His presidential campaign is proceeding by fits and starts.” The expression began in the late 1500s with “as by fits.” The noun fit meant a paroxysm or seizure. Start was added about a century later (The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms).

Many of the folks I’ve known during my lifetime have fallen more into the fit category—myself included. From infancy, people had told me the story of Jesus dying on the cross. How could they not? My dad was a preacher, which meant Mom and I went to church every time the doors opened. But hearing just meant I knew some Bible stories. 

A few months before my ninth birthday, Dad took me into his home office and told me why I needed to follow Jesus as my Savior. I understood—and decided I would. Things progressed well—until I hit middle school. That’s when things changed. Not all my friends followed Jesus in my new school. Nor did they make any effort to obey all the commands my parents had taught me to obey. They pressured me to follow suit. I stood strong. Then adolescence took over. 

My fourteenth birthday brought more changes. By this time, I had decided I wanted to delve into some of that behavior and those attitudes my middle school friends had invited me to indulge in. By this time, I was in another school with a much rougher crowd. I had only two or three friends who traveled the way my parents and every Sunday school teacher had told me to go. I chose the wrong path. 

High school was a blur. Still is. I continued going to church—I had no choice—and I even kept reading my Bible and praying. But the fits caught me, and the starts became almost nonexistent. Occasionally, I’d feel bad about the things I did, but God’s still small voice grew stiller and quieter. 

Finally, when in my mid-twenties, I tired of the fits and decided to start . . . again. Of course, God hadn’t left me. I had moved, and, as always, he waited for me to come back. When I did, I discovered open arms, forgiveness, and second chances. 

I wish I could say my journey from then to now has entailed consistent starts—but it hasn’t. Yet, I feel as if I’m in good company. The greatest missionary who ever lived faced fits and starts.  

Most Bible scholars believe Paul wrote these words after he met the risen Christ on the Damascus Road, not before. Which is significant. If he penned them afterward, then his life was also characterized by fits and starts. Although he took the gospel message to the known world, he didn’t always trust, get it right, or obey. Still, God used him. 

The theological word for the process of fits and starts is sanctification. And some important elements go along with the word and its meaning.

Sanctification Requires Effort

Sanctification isn’t automatic. In fact, if we don’t put in some effort, we’ll find ourselves doing more fits than starts. The writer of Hebrews alluded to this when he wrote, “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food” (Hebrews 5:12 NLT). 

Sanctification Is a Process

The process begins the moment we follow Christ and continues throughout our lifetime. We never arrive at perfection this side of heaven. There should never come a time when we stop striving to grow spiritually, to know more about God and his ways, and to get closer to him. 

Sanctification Always Involves Forgiveness and Second Chances

Unbelief is the only sin God won’t forgive, and Christians don’t have to worry about committing it because we have already believed. Satan would love nothing more than to convince us our fits have disqualified us from God’s service. Our place is on the shelf. Our service is over. We’re a failure. 

Such messages never come from God. When we choose to follow Christ, he clothes us in Christ’s righteousness and forgives all our sins. Our part thereafter is to confess and start—and keep starting despite the fits.

So, don’t let the fits get you down. They are a part of our fallen nature and of the journey. With God’s guidance, you can enjoy more starts than fits. 

How can you enjoy more starts than fits?

Father, give me the strength to follow you faithfully so I can experience more starts than fits.

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Hating the Holy - Martin Wiles

Don’t give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. Matthew 7:6 NLT

As far as he knew, he was the only Christian in his office.

John was fresh out of college and had just taken a promising job in his hometown. Not ashamed that he was a believer, he quickly decorated his small cubicle with Christian décor. Imagine his surprise when his boss approached him and told him to remove it. The excitement over his new opportunity soon digressed as the antagonism against him progressed. The actions and words of his co-workers demonstrated they hated the holy. He stayed, though, and continued to cast pearls before them.

I’ve owned a few hogs in my lifetime. They are avid eaters and cared for nothing except food and slop to eat, dirt to root in, and a mud hole to wallow in. Had I thrown anything of value in the pen along with their food, they would have trampled it. Trying to give them what they didn’t care about would have wasted my time.

Jesus wasn’t giving a command to pig farmers. Nor was he teaching we shouldn’t share with those who are unreceptive. Instead, he warned about what to expect when we toss the gospel to those who aren’t interested . . . to those content with their evil ways.

Selfishness and contentment with filth are in a hog’s nature. But there is good in the hog when the dirt is washed away—everything, in fact, some say, except the squeal.

Changing a hog’s nature is almost impossible. Changing ours is impossible, too. Like the hog, we’re quite content to wallow in the filth of sin and disobedience. I, too, have cast pearls before some people who had no interest.

God, however, can give anyone a new nature—a nature that loves pearls and all things holy . . . a heart that drives us toward obedience to God’s commands rather than mud.

Wisdom is necessary to know where to cast our pearls. While everyone needs to hear about God’s love, allowing God to guide us helps us throw them where they will reap the most results.

If God has changed your hate for the holy, how can you cast that same pearl before others?

Father, give us wisdom to cast the pearl of the gospel where it will garner the most fruit. 

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Fitted Together Perfectly - Martin Wiles

Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. Ephesians 4:16 NLT

Sixteen was a special number, but not because I had a sweet sixteen party.

When I performed the calculation, I had belonged to sixteen churches. Like any other child who doesn’t have a choice about where they attend church, as a preacher’s kid, I didn’t either. And since my dad didn’t stay at any one place long, I had been in five churches by the time I reached sixteen. Then I went into the ministry and repeated the pattern, although staying a little longer than good ole Dad.

I’ve seen my share of oddities as I've made the church rounds. One church melted when ladies began wearing pantsuits. Another had to wait for the monthly business meeting so they could vote to purchase the necessary parts to repair a toilet. Still another lost a few members when they decided to use the family life center for something other than meals. One had policies to follow if a person of another race or culture showed up. One was even bold enough to close down the sanctuary and move to the family life center to accommodate the growth in numbers they expected.

While different from each other, all shared a commonality: they fit together perfectly. Those on the outside may not have understood some of their beliefs or practices, but those on the inside knew their whys intimately.

Each of the churches was a body unto itself. But they also formed a body collectively—even though they encompassed different denominations, beliefs, and worship styles. Their commonalities included belief in Jesus Christ and members using their gifts.

As the human body only functions perfectly when each part is operating normally, so does the church. It’s up to us to determine what part we are by examining the gift God has given us and then locating a church where we can fit our role into the existing ones. When we discover the perfect fit, our body part will enable that church to advance God’s Kingdom. But if we try to fit where we don’t belong, we’ll only experience frustration and create discord.

Have you discovered the church where you’re the perfect fit?

Father, help us discover the church where our gifts will fit perfectly. 

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Stuck in Place - Martin Wiles

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. Titus 2:12 NLT

I’ve tried it at my home, a motel room, and a gym; I didn’t particularly appreciate being stuck in place at either spot.

For me, exercising in place is the supreme act of boredom. I once owned a treadmill and used it religiously. I placed it in the den so I could watch television while walking. I soon tired of the same scenery—or lack thereof. Then, I bought a stair climber, thinking this would provide a more strenuous workout. In the den, it went. Once again, boredom marched in. Going to a gym didn’t help, either. Though there were others around, the scenery was the same. I’ve even run and walked in place in a motel room if I was away on a business trip. 

Regardless of where I exercise, I’m stuck in place if I do it on a stationary machine. I also must endure the same scenery. Give me the outside. A place where my view changes frequently and is unlimited. A place where I can hear birds sing, watch geese waddle in the pond, and marvel at the various types of trees, wildflowers, and wildlife. A place where I can say I’ve moved from point A to B.

As exercising in place confines me, so I have sometimes felt stuck spiritually. I wasn’t necessarily dabbling in godless living or sinful pleasures. I wasn’t making any forward motion.

When we’re not moving forward spiritually or growing in our walk with God, we’re falling backward. God doesn’t want our journey with him to look like a yield graph of some popular stock. Instead, he desires a steady incline with no dips or plateaus. If we allow ourselves to get stuck in place, Satan will move in, steal our focus, and lead us into sinful areas.

Eagerly studying God’s Word for practical insights—not merely reading it because we always have—staying closely connected with fellow believers—not simply because of what they can do for us—and praying heartfelt, earnest prayers—not merely repeating words and phrases—will all move us from a stuck position and keep us on the incline.

Decide on one action that will prevent you from being spiritually stuck.

Father, keep me close to You and always on the move in my spiritual growth. 

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Worthy of the Calling - Martin Wiles

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling. Ephesians 4:1 NLT

Ralph Johnson was following God’s call but wasn’t sure he was worthy of the calling.

As a young adult, he had entered the ministry. With one son in tow and two more to come, he lived his life by the biblical mandate that if a man can’t control his family, he was not worthy to lead God’s church.

This wasn’t an issue until his firstborn began experimenting with teenage rebellion. Had it just been talking back, he could have handled it, but it went further. He cut school, drank, smoked, and experimented with drugs. To top it off, he didn’t care who knew. And many church folks did.

For the next four years, Ralph battled bouts of depression and threatened to resign. He breathed a sigh of relief when his oldest son graduated high school, but more challenges came when his two younger sons decided to follow in their older brother’s footsteps. For most of his ministry, Ralph didn’t feel worthy of his calling.

God often places special callings on our lives, but the foundational calling is his invitation to believe and serve. Obedience is the acid test that we’re walking worthy of our calling. Jesus said if we loved him, we would obey.

Obedience produces certain traits, demonstrating we’re worthy of the calling. One is humility. Not weakness. Not being someone’s doormat. Instead, not thinking more of ourselves than we should—but at the same time, not less. Another is gentleness. Not prone to revenge. A third is patience. Recognizing God is working to form us more into his likeness. A fourth is unity. We’re bound to other believers by the mutual belief that Jesus is the only way to the Father. And finally, peace. Searching for common ground that unifies rather than differences that divide.

Walking worthy of our calling takes work, diligence, and ingenuity. Most of all, it takes allowing God to guide our steps.

What traits are keeping you from walking worthy of your calling?

Prayer: Father, we thank You for the calling You have issued to be Your representatives in this world. Help us walk worthy of that calling. 

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At Home with God - Martin Wiles

I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. Ephesians 3:17 NLT

“Just make yourselves at home,” they said.

My wife and I were on vacation, visiting my brother and sister-in-law in West Virginia. Since we would be there for a few days, they wanted us to establish our own routine. Knowing we got up earlier than they did, they wanted us to feel free to rummage in the kitchen. If we wanted to turn on the television and watch the morning news, that was also permissible. I needed to rearrange a bit in the bedroom to make room for my computer. No problem. I needed to use the internet. Not an issue. They gave us the password. Being made to feel at home meant we could do the same things at their house as ours.

When we’re at home with God, we won’t fear. We’re loved perfectly, completely, and unconditionally. Perfect love and fear should not coexist simultaneously. If it does, we have a flawed understanding of God’s love. Dangerous situations might evoke fear, but even that fear is controlled by trusting in our Protector.

At home with God, we’ll feel comfortable in his presence. He invites us to come boldly before his throne. We don’t have to fear rejection or that some past sin will disqualify us from interacting with him. In Christ, God forgives all our sins. We can dine with God as we do with a good friend.

Home is where we spend most of our time. When we’re at home with God, we’ll spend time with him. Since we can’t hear him audibly, we must listen to him through his Word, prayer, communion with other believers, and worship experiences. My wife and I couldn’t have made ourselves at home at our relatives’ house unless we were there. Nor can we be at home with God if we neglect his presence.

An old saying reads, “There is no place like home.” And there isn’t. Home is where the heart is. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be home.

How can you feel more at home with God?

Prayer: Father, move us to the place where we feel right at home in Your presence.

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Knowing God - Martin Wiles

Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. Ephesians 1:17 NLT

Getting to know someone doesn’t just happen—nor does knowing God.

When I arrived in this world, the first person I met was the doctor. Then I met the nurses who handed me to a lady who snuggled me against her chest. A few minutes later, a man took me from the woman and cuddled me against his chest. Several days later, they took me to a strange place. Both of them stuck a bottle in my mouth when I was hungry, changed my diaper when I soiled it and rocked me to sleep. It took a while, but at some point, I began calling them Momma and Da Da. But I didn’t know all there was to know about them. That would take their lifetime and mine.

Getting to know God isn’t much different than getting to know anyone else. Had my parents given me up for adoption, I would never have known them—unless they chose to reveal themselves later. Had I decided to leave them when I was old enough to care for myself, I wouldn’t have learned the many wonderful things I know now.

The theology book I used in college was four inches thick and told anything I could possibly want to know about God. I’ve plowed through it several times, but that only tells me things about God. The same could be said for reading my Bible. It gives me information about God but doesn’t guarantee I’ll know him.

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was that they’d get to know God. Before we can know God better, we must recognize we need to. When we make this request, God will grant it and show us ways to make it happen.

Studying Jesus’ life in the gospels is an excellent place to start. Since he was God in human form, he shows us much of what we need to know about God and how he expects us to live. When we hunger to know God, the Bible and other sources then become great avenues of information.

Knowledge about God is only mildly beneficial; personal knowledge about him will change our lives. After all, knowledge is of little use if we don’t use it to better ourselves, others, and the world.

So, what can you do to know God better?

Prayer: Father, may we never be satisfied with just knowing about You. Guide us into a complete knowledge of who You are and who we are in a relationship with You. 

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